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Graphic Design in a Box

Edinburgh College of ArtAimée Colley demonstrates the Making up your Mind project, one of six created by final year students.

The careers-focused mini project, Graphic Design in a Box, has drawn to a close at Edinburgh College of Art (ECA).

Bringing final year Graphic Design students together with university careers advisers, experts in widening participation, and recent graduates, the intensive, three-week sprint has taken ECA out of the College and into the classroom to introduce high school learners to creative careers pathways.

The project has seen a total of 28 BA (Hons) students work in six teams to help 14 to 16 year olds think about their skill sets and where these might take them.

At workshops in Forrester High School, talks and games have been interspersed with demonstrations of prototype tools and concepts designed by the students, enabling the young learners to provide constructive feedback on ideas during development.

Learning new skills while helping others to think about theirs

Graphic Design in a Box was devised by Zoe Patterson (Programme Director for Graphic Design at ECA) while on part-time secondment to the Institute for Academic Development at the University of Edinburgh.

The tools devised include light-up installation, Making up your Mind, which enables young people to build personalised brain maps to be discussed at careers events, and IDK, a mid-term creative festival of talks and workshops supported by a website, information pack and Snapchat filter.

Speaking at an exhibition of the six completed tools and concepts at ECA, which was open to learners, teachers and parents from a range of local high schools, student Hannah Hawkesley said:

“What’s been particularly interesting about this brief is actually being able to go to schools and meet students who are in this position right now, have a one-on-one conversation and find out honestly how they feel about graphic design and different creative pathways.

I’ve also developed skills around areas I never thought I could do [especially] in just three weeks. Having this high-paced, time-constrained brief has been exciting. Everyone’s absolutely loved it!”

The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336, VAT Registration Number GB 5929507 00, and is acknowledged by the UK authorities as a "Recognised Body" which has been granted degree awarding powers.